Pan-preparing mechanism



G. SMITH PAN PREPARING MECHANISM 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1'7, 1925 1615,727 J 1927 6. SMITH PAN PREPARING MECHANISM Filed April 17, 1925 8. Shets-heet 2 I a: E EKG-.12, m0

Jan. 25 192 7 G. SMITH PAN PREPARING MECHANIS M an. 25 l J 927 G. SMITH PAN PREPARING MECHANISM Filed April 17, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 .6. SMITH PAN PREPARING MECHANISM r A Filed April 17, 1925 8 Sheets-Sht s 1615 727 Jan. 25, G. SMITH 9 2 PAN PREPARING MECHANISM Filed April 17, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 7 1 .1: TL, "T

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G. SMITH PAN PREPARING MECHANISM Jan. 25, 1927. 1,615,727

Filed April 17, 1925 8 Sheets-Shet Jan. 25, 1927 G. SMITH PAN PREPARING MECHANISM Filed April 17, 1925 8 SheetS-Sheet 8 Patented 1 Jan. 25, 1927.

UNET;

-; n sr GEORGE SMITH, DF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

PAN-PREPARING MECHANISM.

Application filed April 17, 1925. Serial No. 23.980.

The apparatus which forms the subject matterof my invention is designed particularly for use in bakeries and similar establishments for preparing pans for the baking operation.

Theterm pan as herein used refers primarily to what are known to the trade. or in biscuit plants as cracker sheets In construction they consist of a relatively large flat sheet of metal turned downwardly at its periphery about a reinforcing rod, and by reason of their size, the effects of the heat as well as normal abuse in handling the) are greatly subject to warping or bending. An out of flat or warped pan involves numerous disadvantages among which may I c mentioned the difiiculty of panning on lhc cakes evenly in proper spaced relation without permitting the dough from partially turning or folding over, and the im- .pnsr-tiblllt) of an even bake.

Experience has shown that with new pans production is greater by twenty-five per cent with a decidedly superior product. It follows. therefore, that pans are thrown into the discard long before their utility has actually passed or this waste is attempted to'he overcome by the manual hammering of the pans into flat shape from time to time,

a most unsatisfactory method at best. That it has not been successfully accomplished by a mechanical process is due to the flange surrounding the pan.

It has therefore been one of the primary objects of this invention in the preparation of the pan for baking to flatten it and maintain it flattened, and so far as I am aware, I am the first to provide mechanical means for this purpose.

Of equal importance in the preparation of these pans is the proper greasing of the surface. Unless this is done uniformly the product is very inferior. Insufficient grease results in sticking of the dough, and too much means not only unnecessary waste and cx 'icnsc but results in a roduct in which the under surface is fu l of holes. The method and means of greasing the pans therefore forms a valuable feature of my invention.

Broadly speaking, however, the novel haracteristics of this invention resides in the provision in a unitary mechanism of means for flattening, scraping, cleaning and greasing the pans, in combination with means for feeding the pans automatically one at a time to the instrumentalities performing these functions.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming. a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, however, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate What I now regard as a preferred embodiment of my contribution to this art. understood that I do not propose to limit myself to the particular construction which I have chosen to illustrate in the drawings, but reserve the right to make such modifications and changes as fall within the spirit a and scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters have been used to designate like parts throughout I Figure 1 is, a side elevation of the machine; 1

Figurei' is a similar view taken at the opposite side;

Figure 3 is a general top plan;

Figure 4 is a central longitudinal section through the machine; certain gearing and other elements being removed for the sake of clearness;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a detail section on line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a cross section on line of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a detail section of one of the scrapers;

Figure 9 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the scraper control;

'Figure 10 is a section on line Ill-10 of Fi ure 9;

igure 11 is a similar view with the parts in different position;

Figure 12 is a perspective of one polisher;

Figure 13 is a like view of the polishing cloth before application; and

Figure 1.4 is a vertical section through the polisher.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the frame of the machine includes legs 1, upper It should be Y and lower lonvitudinal sills 2 and 2, respectively, there lacing also provided suitable cross members which with the sills are appropriately fastened to the legs. At each side of the machine throughout the major portion of its length intermediate sills 3' are furnished for the purpose of supporting certain of the driving mechanism for the various instrumentalities which the machine includes.

Pan. convey 01'.

Running longitudinally of the frame and bet-ween the u )per sills 2 is a travelling bed or conveyor (J which is adapted to engage and feed the pans P to be acted upon by various appliances for flattening, scraping, brushing, wiping or polish ng, and easing. lhese appliances are carried by the SlllS 2, excepting one of the elements of the pan flattening device which is supported by the sills 3. The conveyor C is formed of cross pieces or blocks 4: which may be of wood or other suitable material, and are connected to endless sprocket chains which are trained over gears 6 and 7, the gears 6 at the delivery end of the machine being undriven and the gear 7 at the receiving end being driven.

The gears 6 are keyed upon a shaft 8 which rotates freely in bearings 9 While the gears 7 are carried by a shaft 10 mounted in bearings 11 on the sills 3. The bearing 11 is disposed substantially beneath the delivery from the pan hopper H at the front of the machine. To support the upper reach of the. conveyor and prevent sagging thereof. opposite angle irons 12 extend inwardly from the inner faces of the sills 2 throughout substantia ly the length of the conveyor reach.

A desirable form of the conveyor 5 consists of an attaching plate '13 extending from one of the links thereof and inset in the face of the conveyor block to which it is secured by a bolt 14 extending through the block intermediate of the plates 13. The conveyor link 15 lies substantially beneath the lateral center of the block so as to'properly support the same in its travel about the sprockets and in its approach to a horizontal position for receiving the pan. This pan is of the usual type used in l'iakeries and the body thereof is provided with a reinforced bead P at all of its edges, the pan being preferably of, rectangular shape and adapted to lie with its body portion in direct contact with the upper surface of the coi'iveyor blocks. In order to receive the beaded edge of the pan these blocks are formed with a longitudinal groove or rabbet 1(3 of sufiicient depth to permit the pan to contact with the upper face ofthc block and a similar lateral recess 17 adjacent the ends of the blocks disposed to receive the pan P at that point upon a number of the blocks. The recesses 16 are spaced from each other relative to the diameter of the pan upon which the mechanism is operating.

In order to prevent the beaded edge of the pan from entering between two of the blocks as they travel from a curved to a straight path I have provided an overlapping element which may comprise a finger or plate 18 secured to one block and adapted to lie flush in a recess 19 upon the adjacent block as shown in Figure 6. From this view it will be seen that as the blocks approach a horizontal path these fingers pass into the recesses and effectually prevent the entrance of a pan flange between the blocks even if fed out of position.

It will be noticed that the longitudinal recesses 16 to receive the pan flanges are disposed so that the recess for the advancing edge of one pan is opposite a similar recess :0 for the rear end of the other or preceding pan, so that the pans when upon the conveyor form a substantially continuous surface without any interval or space intermediate thereof.

In order to support the lower reach of the conveyor and also drive the same to relieve the links of the chain of the driving strain a plurality of carrier chains 21 have been provided and bear against the under face of the lower reach of the conveyor chain C. This carrier may be mounted upon sprockets on the shaft 2?- at its rear end carried by brackets while the forward end thereof is carried over a sprocket 24 upon v a shaft 25 which is suitably driven at a speed slightly greater than the blocks of the conveyor C. The upper reach of the chains 21 travels upon a supporting sill 20 which maintains itin proper position throughout its length. This arrangement results in-Iapushing action upon theblocks of the conveyor causing them to be fed forward in their passage through the lower reach and also pushed forward by the drive for the conveyor C at the upper reach. which effects a close contact between thehlocks and prevents excessive wear upon the links of the t irocket chain or breaking thereof under the riving tension.

Pan hopper.

The pan hopper H is positioned at the, front end of the frame upon the sills 2 and comprises essentially a. front wall 96 and a rear wall 27, the latter being provided at. its lower portion with a sumiortin z bracket 28 disposed above the bottom of the hopper so as to maintain one end of the pans l. therein in a position inclined to the bottom 1 of the hopper. The front wall as is provided at its lower portion with an opening:

29 which is substantially closed by a roller 30 which extends slightly into the hopper and is so positioned that when the flange of the lowermost pan enters the recess upon the conveyor it will pass beneath this roller and be forced into a seated position when the movement of the conveyor will withdraw the opposite end of the pan fromthe supportilm bracket. 29 allowing the pan to fall into intimate contact with the upper face of-tho ccnivcyor. The rear wall 27 is further provided with an inclined face 31 which forces the uppermost of the series of pans toward the front wall of the hopper a ove the roll 30 and thus relieves to some extent the pan to be delivered of the weight. of the superposed pans,

when the lowermost pan is withdrawn it will be seen that the next pauwill fall into position upon the bracket and its lower edge travels upon the surface of the pan connected to the conveyor until it reaches the rear thereof when the bead of the succeeding pan will fall into the next receiving groove of the conveyor; The pan hopper is PitWldCtl at one side with slide ways 32 extended therefrom and into which the pain;

may be introduced for primer positioning: in the hopper. As they fall from these slides one end strikes the inclined block 31 at the rear of the hopper. which forces forward the front edge of the pan into contact with the wall 26 by which it is supported durinp the delivery of the lower pans.

F lat-twain means.

As the pan passes from the hopper beneath the retaining roll 30 it is held in firm contact with the upper face ofthe conveyor and drawn beneath the flattening roll F which is of considerable weight and has a yielding tension. This is effected by disposing: the shaft 33 of the roll in an adjustable boxing 3-1. upon which the tension spring: 35 acts downwardly as it is disposed beneath a'fixed head plate 36. Beneath the conveyor and contacting with the under face thereof is a companion flattening roll F the journal 37 of which is disposed in a bearing 38 which may be adjusted to compensate for wearand to properly position the roll by means of insertible shims or plates 3.) disposed beneath the bearing box. Tn normal condition of use the supporting roll l'" is disposed Slightly above the horizontal plane of the conveyor travel so that its cooperative effect with the upper roll is to remove any buckle or distortion of thepan which 18 thereby flattened into a substantially true plane.

The upper roll F is suitably driven while the "lower roll runs looly and is rotated slowly by frictional engagement with the under face of the conveyor. lhis driving of the upper roll not only tends to straightcn or-flatten the pan in its passage beneath the same but also performs to a certain extent a forward feeding action. In order to maintain the opposite ends of the pan in contact with the conveyor a retaining: roll 40 is disposed at the opposite side of the flattening roll F from the retaining roll 30, these tending to hold the ends of the lower roll to be transmitted to the upper v flattening roll so as to apply the pressure to the pan in. such position as to counteract the distorted surface thereof.

Scraper mechanism.

The pans after passing beneath the flattening rolls are brought into contact with the scraper mechanism indicated at S, which effectually removes any flour, sugar or other adhering material therefrom by a rotary scraping action applied to the upper surface of the pan. A desirable arrangement of this mechanism is specifically shown in Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 wherein a cross bar -15 is provided at opposite ends with offset block portions 46 which are slidingly mounted within guides 47 secured to the upper face of the sills 2. These guides rise in a rearward inclined direction from the sills and such disposition is particularly effective in the raising movement of the cross bar, as hereinafter described.

At op osite ends of the cross bar hearing brac ets 48 are rovided and support a driving shaft 49 which carries a plural ty of spaced bevel gears 50 secured thereon in position to mesh with a cooperating gear 51 upon a stub shaft 52 pivotally mounted in a bearing 53 dependent from the crossbar 45. This stub shaft is provided at its lower end with a crank arm 54 to the outer end of which a. pin 55 is secured and extends downward. Slidably mounted upon this p'u and keyed thereto is a collar 56 at the upper portion of a bell shaped or annular scraper 57. This mounting provides for a wcrtical sliding movement of the scraper to adjurt itself to inequalities in the surface of the pan and the scraper is normally tcns'oncd downward by a spring 58 and limited in such movement by a. head 59 upon the p n 55. as shown in detail in Figure 8. This mounting provides for a rotary movement of the scraper concentric to the axis of the driving gear so that in the use of a plurality of scrapers the operative field of action of one overlaps thatof the other and thus secures a complete cleansing of the surface of the pan.

In order to maintain the scrapers under the proper tension in contact with the pan ing rod pivoted thereto and carrying a weight 51 (Fig. 1) while the opposite slide block (Fig. 2) is tensioned by means of the driving belt 5'2 passing over the pulley 53 thereon and extending to the drive pulley 5-l upon the shaft 55 which carries at the opposite side of the machine the fly wheel 56' suitably connected, for instance by a belt 57', with a motor 58 or other source of power.

\Vhen the belt is in the position shown in Figure 2 the. scrapers are constantly moved in one direction and the result thereof is to dull or wear down the annular portion upon the advancing side of the scraper. In order to compensate for such wear and resharpen the worn edge the direction of travel of the scrapers may be reversed by crossing the belt 52 in the usual manner which causes the driving gears 50 upon the cross shaft to revolve in an opposite direction. By this means the life of the scrapers may be niaterially prolonged and the cutting edges thereof maintained in the best possible condition for effective work.

In order to prevel'it injury to the scrapers or to the pans in passing frmn-one pan to another during the continued travel of the pans beneath the rotating scrapers, provision is made for lift'ng the scrapers out of contact of one pan and bringing them into contact with the succeeding pan at the abutting edges of the pans. This is accom plished by means of a trip rod ('30 mounted upon the slide block 46 by passing through a cas'ng 61 thereon'to which it is adjustably secured by means of the set screws 62. This rod may be also adjusted rotatably or at an angle to the box by means of the bolt 43 extending therethrough and secured inposition by the clamp nut 44, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 10. l

The lower end of the rod is provided with a friction roller 63 which travels in a path beyond the side edges of the conveyor and pans. Cooperating with this roller is a cam or trip plate 64 suitably secured to the outer edge of the conveyor blocks adjacent;

' l to the position of the abutting recesses 16 therein, as shown in Figure 9. This trip plate extends over the line of juncture of the blocks of the conveyor with its apex at that line. The plate comprises an upwardly incliuc'd surface 65 and a downwardly inclined l'acc (Ni so that as the roller engages the former the slide block and the scraper mechanism carried thereby is lifted from the pan and maintained in elevated position until after the roller passes onto the face 66 when the scra 'iers again descend into contact with the pan. By a'proper adjustment of the trip rod the degree of such elevation may be regulated as found desirable.

This elevation of the scraper mechanism is materially assisted by the rearward inclination of the slide blocks as the, advancing travel of the pan tends to assist in such movement and prevents direct impact which might occur in the event of an upward movement at a right angle to the pan.

Under ordinary conditions of feeding the pans succeed one another in a continuous series, but if for any reason. the feed of a pan should be missed or omitted the scrapers would come into direct contact with the surface of the wooden conveyor bars which would result in injury thereto as well as to the scrapers. In order to provide against such contingency means are mounted upon the frame l7 of the slide block by which said block may be latched in an elevated position thus holding the scrapers clear of the conveyors during the period when no pan is present. This is accomplished by means of a contact arm 67 which travels in a path directly above the recess or rabbet 17 at the side edges of the conveyor members. This arm is rigidly secured to a crank member 68 pivotally mounted within a bearing 70 at one side of the frame and carrying in its upper portion a bifurcated arm 71 to which a latch member 72 is pivotally connected and extends through an aperture 73 in the frame 47 so as to enter a recess 74 .in the: slide block 46. Vhen the conveyor is provided with the pan in the usual manner this arm rides upon the side edge thereof as shown in Figure 10, while if the pan be absent the arm gravitates into the recessed portion 17, thus throwing the latch bolt 72 inward into contact with the slide block 46 which has been previously elevated by the trip rod 60, as before described, such position of parts being shown in Figure 11.

The action of the scrapers tends to throw the material removed toward the sides of the conveyor and for the purpose of facilitating the discharge thereof the angle supporting irons 12 are formed with slotted portions 7 5 through which the material may pass to a suitable receptacle.

Brush mechanism.

After the scraping action the pans pass to the brush device B and carry upon their surface loose particles which are removed by this brush. The brush in the form shown is Supported upon a pivoted arm 76 by means of a driving shaft 77 which is suitably rotated in a direction opposed to the advance of the pans. which mechanism will be hereinafter described. The tension of the contact of the brush with the pan is adapted to be regulated. by pivoting the arm 76 at 77 and providing a crank arm 78 which is pivotally connected at its lower end with an. adjustable screw member 79 supported upon the upper sill 2. as shown in Figure 2. It will be apparent that by an adjustment of the opposite nuts 80 of this bolt- 1,e15,7ar

I veyor and assists in feeding the same.

Wiping mechanism.

The pans having been cleaned by the brushing element are next subjected to the successive action of a plurality of wiping and polishing elements VV-VV, the former being adapted to thoroughly wipe the surface and the latter to polish the same. These elements are substantially identical in construction and the detail structure of only one will be described, the other being correspondingly indicated. The wiping element W comprises essentially a shaft 82 mounted in bearing brackets 83 upon the upper sill 2 and carrying a. frame having radiating arms 84. The number of these arms or wings may be varied at will, three being herein shown in Figure 4. The shaft and wings are driven in a direction opposite the travel of the conveyor C and the shaft is supported for limited vertical movementin the bearings 83 and tensioned toward the pan or conveyor by means of depending rods 85 carrying weights 86 at opposite ends of the shaft 82. Secured to the wings are leaf, extensions 87 by means of pivotal joints 88 through which a longitudinally extending rod 89 extends. Coiled about ,this rod is a spring member 90 bearing at its opposite ends upon the wing and extension 87 so as to normally force these parts toward the same plane. Each of the extensions 87 has secured thereto a longitudinally extending plate 91, one edge 92 of which is curved inwardly and overlaps the supporting wing 84 to which the extension is pivoted. This inwardly curved longitudinal edge of the plate 91 is provided at cach end with cars 93 for removably sup porting a rod 94 which ispassed through a fabric binding 95 carrying at its opposite edges the wiping strips 96 of relatively stout material which are coextensive with the plates 91.

As shown in Figure 14. when the shaft 82 is rotated the extensions are bent rearwardly by contact with the pans P and the self wiping plies 96 being brought into superposed relation against the surface of the pan.

It will be obvious that by removing the rod 04 and reversing the position of the ends of the binding strip a clean ply may be brought from its previous superposed position in the wiping operation and will come to bear down upon the pau'surface. The plies can obviously be shifted so that each one of its two sections will be brought into direct contact with the pans which effects a material economy inasmuch as the four surfaces of one wiping unit can be used at different periods of cleaning. As the rotation of the wiper shaft is counter to the direction of movement of the pans and bead, it is desirable to provide a holdingroller 97 intermediate the first and second wipers in order to maintain the pan in proper position. This roller is driven in the direction of movement of the conveyor and serves to accelerate such move ment, being in structure substantially similar to the roller 81 before described. The second wiping element W is similar 'to the first and is maintained under yielding tension by the weighted rods at its opposite ends, as bofore described.

Grease applicator.

polished by the second of the wiping ap-.

pliances. they are now ready to receive the thin coating of grease, after which they will be passed to the machine for depositing the dough for a new batch of cakes.

The grease for application to the pans is stored in a receptacle 100 which is mounted upon brackets 101. as shown in Figure 4. This receptacle extends transversely across the frame and has a trough-like portion 102 at'its bottom provided with a slot co-exten sive with its length and through which a wick 103' extends, the function of which is to supply grease to a rotary applicator 10st. The flow of grease through the wick is controlled by means of a strip 105 which is adapted to bear against the wick to compress the same against a wall of the trough slot 102. The strip is controlled by means of screw rods 106 which pass through top bearings 107 and are n'ovided at their upper ends with finger grips 108. By tightening the strip firmly against the wick the flow ol grease may be entirely cut off. while a variation of such pressure determines the amount of feed to the greasing elementti.

Beneath the bottom of the receptacle 100 a chamber 109 is provided which is accessible from one end and adapted to receive any desired heating means such as an electric coil 110 to which current may be suppl ed by a suitable conductor 111 indicated in Figure 1. The function of the heater isto maintain a proper temperature of the. grease in the receptacle so that its liquid cond tion will cause it to freely feed through the wick. It is also desirable that the side and bottom walls of the chaml'icr 110 be suitably insulated so that the heatgenerated will be directed against the bottom of thc receptacle.

The grease applicator 104. is generally ments beforedcscribed and comprises cs- Inn ing their rotation.

sills 3 of the frame. drive shaft opposite the pulley 56 is provided with a small' pulley 54' having a sentially a shaft 112 which is driven in a direction counter to the travel of the pans and the wings of which carry the fabric contact members 113, these being adapted to engage the depending end of the wick dur- T he number of such wings may be varied, four being herein shown as found sufficient to properly appl the grease to the pans.

At opposite sides of the greasing element 11. additional holding rolls 11 1 and 115 are disposed and driven in the same direction "as the travel of the pan which act to hold the pan inthc rabbetted portion of the conveyor during its continued movement. The pans pass from the greasing element upon a delhcry extension 116, being held thereon if desirable by a guide element 117 .until the free edge of the pan is engaged b the derolls'llS and 119 respectiveliv. which are driven in the direction of travel of the pan and at a greater speed, thus causing a forcible withdrawal of the pan from the conveyor and its delivery into a suitable. hoppcusuch as indicated at 120. By this con struction any 'iossibie'jamming of the pans at the outlet of the machine is effectually avoidedand' a tension maintained on the pans during their passage through the final greasing element of the mechanism- Drizriny mcclzanisiiz.

, sills, 2 and drives a 'pullev wheel 56 on th'c main drive shaft 55' of the machine by means of a belt 57. The main drive shaft is journaled in bearings supported upon the The end of the main grooved periphery for receiving a belt 52 which is trained around a grooved pulley 53 which is keyed vto the endof the scraper drive shaft -19. A suitable spring controlled belt tightener 1.21 holds the drive belt taut whether the scraper support 16 is at its upper or its lower position in the guides 47.

The conveyor C is driven in the direction of the rear of the frame of the machine from the main drive shaft which has a sprocket gear 1:22 just inside of thepulley 56 (Fig. 1). -This sprocketgear drives a sprocket 123. which is keyed onto shaft 1:21, by means of chains The. shaft 121 runs transversely of the frame and parallel with the main drive shaft- 55', and carries at the other side of the frame from the main drive asmall sprocket gear 126 which through a chain 127 drives a large sprocket gear 128 on the end of the shaft 10. The conveyor is thus moved in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2 to carry the pans P in the direction of the rear end of the frame. The upper flattening roll F is driven by a sprocket 118 on one end thereof and chain 14-9 extending which is trained around sprocket gears 1:13

and 13% which are keyed, respectively. upon theshafts S2 and 77. The gear .131 s just inside of the brush drive sprocket. second wiping appliance is driven by a sprocket gear 'on the opposite end of the. wiper shaft 812, a chain 136 being trained over the same and over a gear 137 on the shaft of the second wiper. As will he evident from examination. of the drawings, the brush shaft along with theshaft-s of the wipers are all moved in a direction counter to the movement of the conveyor C.

The grease applicator is likewise driven counter to the movementof the conveyor t. as previously stated. The. rotation is transmitted to the shaft 112 of the grease applicator by means of a. chain 1.38 which is trained over a sprocket: gear 139 keyed to the applicator shaft, the smile receiving its. motion from a sprocket gear 1 10 upon shaft 124. It is proper to observe that each of the driven elements thus far described are rotated in acounter-titlockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 1).

The drive for the holding rolls 81 and- 97 is through a sprocket chain 141 engaging sprockets thereon and extending to a sprocket on shaft 142. The holding rolt: 111 and 115 are driven by a chain and sprocket connection .113 fromshaft" 7 to roll 114 and a similar connect-ion 141 from roll 114 to roll-115. The delivery rolls 11F and 119 are geared together and driven at an accelerated speed by the chain and sprocket connection 145 from the shaft of the gear 6 to one of the rolls (Fig. 1}). By taking power from the conveyor the roll speed is regulated relative to the movement of the pan. Thelower conveyor chains 21 are moved at agreater speed than the conveyor C through the large gear 14-6 on one end of shaft 10 meshing with asmaller gear 147 on the driving shaft 25 forvthe chains 21.

Operation.

The detail operation of the several units of the invention has been described in connection with their construction. In the general operation of the mechanism the lowermost pan is drawn from the hopper by the conveyor and flattened beneath the The" cooperating rolls for that purpose, then fed beneath the scraping units by which adhering material is removed and this material brushed from the pan in its progressive movement through the machine. The pans are then fed beneath one of the wiping units sive feed of the pans from the-hopper to the delivery point. #The system of driving mechanism provided assures a proper actuation of the several units at a speed to most effectually accomplish their several functions while the drive for the conveyor is of a special type adapted torelieve the chains of the tension orstrain incident to their engagement with the pans and movement thereof beneath the operating members.

The pan feeding. construction is especially designed to prevent the clogging of the hopperand to properly present the flange at one edge of the pan to the receiving recess upon the conveyor so that the latter may act to withdraw the lowermost pan and permit the next superposed pan to fall into proper position upon the pan being withdrawn to effect an accurate and continuous feed of the pans in" alignment with the receiving grooves onthe conveyor.

The construction of the flattening rolls permits the upper driven roll to effectively act upon a buckled or bent pan which i; firmly supported in contact therewith by the lower roll while the scraping unit provides means for effectually acting upon the entire surface area of the pan through the rotary movement of the annular-scrapers.

The invention also presents'an important improvement in the" feeding mechanism from the grease reservoir which prevents an excess of grease being applied to the pan and controls the feed through the wick to determine the proper amount to prevent a deleterious action upon the cakes subsequently baked which would occur were too little or an excess of grease applied.

Another feature of essential novelty is the structure of the wiping members which is also embodied broadly in the greasing unit, this comprising thepivoted leaves carried by the wings which causes the fabric wipers to rest in parallel contact with the pan for an extended'period during the rotation of the wiper'and further permits the removal and reversal of the Wipers so as to materially extend their period of usefulness.

Having tlms-described my invention. what I claim as new is: p

1. In a mechanism of the class described, a conveying member adapted to support a pan in flat contact therewith and to engage the pan and retain it against movement relative to the conveying member. and a pressure device cooperating with said member and the pan thereon to flatten lhc latter. y

2. In a unitary machine for preparing pans. the combination of a pressure device to flatten the pans. a conveymfor support ing the pans during flattening thereof. and a device for treating the pans adapted to be broi'ight. under the control of the conveyor.

into operative relation to the surface of the pan. p

3. In an organized machine of the class described. the combination of pan preparing devices. and a conveyor for supporting the pan while operated upon by said devices. one of said devices lacing mounted to move to-' ward and from contacting relation to a pan and brought, under the control of the conveyor, into effective cooperation with the pan.

4:. In an organized machine of the Class described. a plurality of successively operating pan preparing means for flattening, scraping, polishing and greasing a pan. :1 cooperating conveyor for conveying a pan to the respective panpreparing means and means for operating said conveyor and said pan preparing means in synchronism.

5. In a mechanism of the class described. a conveyor adapted to engage and feed a pan therewith, opposite pressure rolls dis posed beneath said conveyor and above said pan, a scraping device disposed. under the control of the conveyor. to act upon the pan"- in its travel upon the conveyor. means for removing loose material from the pan after such scraping :u-tiozn'and means for operating said devices sin'iultancously.

6. In a device of the class described. a conveyor adapted to engage, and move a pan therewith, means cooperating with said pan and conveyor for flattening the surface of the pan, and a rotary surface treating device having elements adapted to be brought into contact with the flattened surface of the pans to operate upon a major portion thereof incident'to travel of the conveyor therebeneath in a reverse direction to the direction of rotation of the treating device.

7. In a mechanism of the class descibcd. a conveying member adapted to support a pan in flat contact therewith and to engage the pan and retain it against moven'icnt relutvie to the conveying member, and a cooperating positively driven pressure device disposed to act upon the surface of the pan opposite the conveying member to flatten the pan.

S. In a mechanism of the class described, a conveyor for pans composed of",pivota1ly connected supporting members having means to receive a portion of a pan to retain it inpositi-on thereon, driving means for the conveyor to form a seat to receive the headed edge of a pan and support the body thereof in flush contact with the conveyor,

1].. In an organizedmachine of the class described. a pan conveyor having means for interlocking: engagement with a pan, means i or feeding pans to the conveyor, pan treatingi means and means for receiving a pan from the conveyor and positively feeding the same at an accelerated speed to a point of delivery.

12. In a mechanism of the class described, an endless chain. a conveyor comprising cross bars pivoted thereto and formed on their outer faces with recesses adapted to receive the dependent edge of a pan resting- 'in contact with the upper surface of the bars. and a plurality'of driven holding rolls disposed to contact with the upper surface of the pan and retain the same in contact with the conveyor.

13. In a mechanism of the class described. a conveyor comprising cross bars pivoted thereon and formed with transverse and longitudinal recesses disposed to receive the dependent edge of a pan, and means upon each bar disposed to overhang the next adjacent bar in'overlapping arrangement to the joint.

14. In a mechanism of the class described, an endless chain, a conveyor thereon comprising cross bars provided with means for supporting a pan in contact therewith. and a projection upon certain of said bars adapt ed to seat in a recess upon the abutting bar when said bars are in a single plane and to overlap the joint betweensaid bars in all positions thereof to prevent entrance of a portion of a pan between such bars.

15. In a mechanism of the class described. a conveyor having means to engage and move a pan therewith. a pan hopper, means therein to support the lowermost pan in inclined position with one edge dis 'msed to be engaged by aaid conveyor. and mean-a dispo ed in a plane above the conveyor to contact with a. pan and compel movement of the hopper and adapted to contact with the lo\v rn'iost pan and force its rim into cooperation with the rim engnnc iirg, scat upon the conveyor.

1.7. In an organized machine of the class described, a plurality of successively operating" l)tll11)l't1)tlllll;1 means for flattening. scraping and cleaning a. pan; a pan hopper disposed at one end of said machine. a conveyor for automatically feeding the pans to the respective'pan preparing means aforesaid. and means for operating said conveyor and said pan preparing means in synchroinsin.

18. In an organized machine of the class described, a plurality of successively operating pan preparing meansfor fiattcnin scraping and cleaning a pan; a pan hopper disposed. at one end of said machine, a conveyor for automatically feeding the pans to the respective pan preparing means aforesaid. means for operating said conveyor and said pan preparing means in synchronism; and a series of driven holding rolls disposed intermediate the several pan treating devices aforesaid for retaining the pan in contact with a conveyor during the action of said devices upon the same.

19. In an organized machine of the class described, a plurality of successively operating pan preparing means for flattening.

scra in and cleanim a an' a van ho ier disposed at one end of said machine, a conveyor for automatically feednng the pans to the respective pan preparing means aforesaid. means for operating said conveyor and said pan preparing means in synchronismg] a series of driven holding! rolls disposed intermediate the several pan preparing means aforesaid for holding. the pan in-contact with the conveyor during the action of said devices upon the same. a guide extended from the end of the machine opposite to the hopper aforesaid. and driven delivery rolls disposed to receive the pan from said guide and disconnect the same from the con veyor.

20. In a mechanisn'i of the cla s described including a conveyor. means for feeding a pan thereto. driving means for said conveyor, a supporting carrier for the lower reach of said conveyor geared to a shaft of the convey'or driving means to operate at. a greater speed, a pan treating device disvvyor, a supporting carrier for theelower reach of said conveyor geared to a shaft of the conveyor driving means to operate at a greater speed, pan treating devices comprising flattening rolls disposed at opposite sides of said conveyor, a driving connection for the upper flattening roll, and driving connections for rotating said devices.

22. In an organized machine of the class described, a plurality of successively operating pan preparing means for scraping,

- polishing am greasing a pan, a cooperating conveyor for conveying a pan to the respective pan preparing means, a supporting carrier for the lower reach of the conveyor having means to drive it at a greater speed than the conveyor, and means for operating, said conveyor, said pan preparing meansand carrier in synchronlsm.

23. In an organized machine 01 the class described, a plurality of successively op-i' crating pan preparing means for scraping, polishing and greasing a pan, a cooperating conveyor for conveying a pan to the respective pan preparing means, a supporting carrier for the lower reach of'the conveyor having means to drive 115 eta greater speed than the conveyor, means for operating said conveyor, said pan preparing means and carrier in sg'nchronism, delivery rolls disposed at the elivery end of the machine, and

means for-driving said delivery rolls from the conveyor.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE SMITH. 

